Page 49 of 96
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47
2
Safety check
Accessories and tyres
d Warning:
BMW cannot examine or test
every product of outside
origin to ensure that it does
not represent a safety risk if
used on or in connection with
your BMW motorcycle. Even
approval by an official inspec-
tion authority or an official
permit (General Operating
Permit) cannot always pro-
vide this guarantee. Tests
conducted by these
instances cannot make
provision for all operating
conditions experienced by
BMW motorcycles and
consequently, they are not
sufficient in some circum-
stances.
L Note:
BMW accessories and other
products approved by BMW
can be obtained from your
BMW motorcycle dealer.
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48
Safety check
Correct loading
d Warning:
Overloading can impair the
handling of your motorcycle.
Make sure that the weight is uniformly distributed between
right and left
Pack heavy items at the bot-
tom Max. load in each case
OA (left
and right): 10 kg (22 lb)
Max. load on luggage carrier
and in tank-top rucksack
OA:
5 kg (11 lb) each
Check that fastenings are
correctly positioned and tight
d Warning:
With cases installed, it is ad-
visable not to exceed
130 km/h (80 mph).
OA Optional accessories
Loading
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Safety check
e Attention:
Do not exceed the gross weight
limit of 450 kg (992 lb).
Do not exceed the wheel load
limits of 180 kg (300 lb) at the
front and 300 kg (661 lb) at the
rear.
Reset the suspension spring
preload and the shock absorb-
ers to match the total weight
(
b 43, 44, 46).
The gross weight consists of:
– motorcycle with full tank
–rider
–passenger
– luggage
Loading
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50
Starting – Riding – Parking
Handling your motorcycle
safely
Each motorcycle has a charac-
ter all its own. It is time now for
you to familiarise yourself with
the way your own motorcycle
behaves:
– Acceleration
– Roadholding
–Cornering
–Braking …
These are all things you need to
become familiar with.
Please remember too that if the
motorcycle has not yet covered
1,000 kilometres (600 miles),
the engine is not yet fully run in.
e Attention:
BMW Integral ABSOE incorpo-
rates a brake booster, so brak-
ing efficiency is significantly
higher than with conventional
brake systems.
d Warning:
The tyres need to cover a cer-
tain distance
before they acquire their full
road grip (b 59).
When riding at high speed,
a l w a y s b e a r i n m i n d t h a t v a r i o u s
boundary conditions such as:
settings of the spring and
shock-absorber system, unbal-
anced loading, loose clothing,
low tyre pressures, worn tyres,
etc.,
can affect the handling of your
motorcycle.
OEOptional extra
First time out
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3
Starting – Riding – Parking
First time out
Safe motorcycling doesn’t
depend on the motorcycle
alone.
Your own skill and common-
sense are needed too.
The key to genuine safety on
the road is a sensible balance
between the motorcycle’s tech-
nical features and the rider’s
skill, so that together they form
a single efficient unit.
Riding safely in traffic calls for a
sense of responsibility to your
passenger and to other road
users.d Warning:
Do not ride the motorcycle af-
ter drinking alcoholic bever-
ages. Even small amounts of
alcohol or drugs, particularly
if taken in conjunction with
medicines, will adversely af-
fect your perception and your
ability to assess situations
and make decisions, and also
slow down your reflexes.
Take to the road now by all
means, but think carefully about
everything you do!
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Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
BMW Integral ABSOE
Motorcycle equipped with
BMW Integral ABS (
b 72)
d Warning:
When the ignition is switched
off or if the BMW Integral ABS
fails, only a “RESIDUAL
BRAKING FUNCTION” re-
mains available for slowing
the motorcycle (
b 75).
Under these circumstances
you must apply CONSIDERA-
BLY higher pressure to the
brake levers in order to apply
the brakes, and lever travel is
longer!
OEOptional extra
Risk of asphyxiationExhaust fumes contain carbon
monoxide, which is colourless
and odourless but highly toxic.
d Warning:
Inhaling the exhaust fumes
therefore represents a health
hazard and can even cause
loss of consciousness with
fatal consequences.
Do not run the engine in an
enclosed space.
Risk of fatal accidentYour motorcycle is equipped
with Digital Motor Electronics
(Motronic) and high-power igni-
tion system.
d Warning:
When the engine is running or
the ignition switched on, nev-
er touch electrically live parts
of the ignition system or the
digital motor electronics.
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Starting – Riding – Parking
Important notes
Catalytic converter
e Attention:
To avoid damage to the cata-
lytic converter:
Do not run the fuel tank dry
Push-start only when the
engine is cold
Do not run the engine with a
spark plug lead disconnected
Do not exceed the engine- speed limits marked on the
revolution counter
Comply with all specified
maintenance intervals
Stop the engine at once if it is
misfiring
In the event of misfiring or a severe drop in engine power,
consult a specialist work-
shop, preferably an author-
ised BMW motorcycle dealer.
If misfiring or malfunction of the
fuel-air mixture preparation sys-
tem causes unburned fuel to
reach the catalytic converter,
there is a risk of it overheating
and being damaged.
Risk of fireHigh temperatures occur at the
exhaust system, particularly if a
catalytic converter is installed.
d Warning:
Make sure that whether riding
or standing still or when the
motorcycle is parked, no eas-
ily flammable material (for ex-
ample hay, grass, leaves,
clothing or luggage etc.) can
come into contact with the
hot exhaust system.
Do not allow the engine to
idle unnecessarily or for pro-
longed periods — risk of over-
heating or fire! Ride away
immediately after starting the
engine.
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Starting – Riding – Parking
Placing the motorcycle on
the side stand
d Warning:
For safety reasons, never sit
on the motorcycle with the
side stand extended.
e Attention:
Stop the engine before using
the side stand.
Make sure the surface under
the stand is firm.
On a gradient, the motorcycle
should always face uphill; se-
lect 1st gear. Switch off the ignition to stop
the engine
Keep both feet on the ground
Hold the left handlebar grip
with your left hand
Keep your right hand on the
right handlebar grip and the
handbrake lever
Hold the motorcycle upright and balanced
U s e y o u r le f t f o o t a t t h e e x t e n -
sion pin to extend the side
stand fully (arrow)
Slowly lean the motorcycle to the side until its weight is
taken by the stand and dis-
mount from the motorcycle
Turn the handlebars to the full
left lock position (
b 9)
Check that the motorcycle
is supported firmly
Side stand
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